Territory



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING.

GAS UPERATED MACHINE GUN.

Patented Aug. 20, 18.95.

Y,Il z- 3 Shets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 20,A 1895.

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UNlTED STATES AIZVFENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. BROWNING, or oGDEN, UTAH TERRITORY.

GAS-OPERATED MACHINE-GUN'.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,659, dated. August 20, 1895.

' Application mea June 17, 189s. seaNuAiam. (remodel.)

.To @ZZ whom ii may concern,.-

lBe it known that I, JOHNM. BROWNING, of Ogden, in the county of Weber. and Territory of Utah, have invented a new Improvement in Machine-Guns; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of ref closed and its other parts in corresponding posaid tubes, together with the cross-bar and.

sitions; Fig 2, asimilar view4 of the gun, showing its breech-block open and other parts in proper positions relatively to the open breechblock; Fig. 1, an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the feed-wheel and actuating spring-dog and holding spring stud; Fig. l", a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the portion of the gun in proximity to and in rear of the breech and' looking towardthe opposite side of .the gun from that shown in front in Figs. 1 and 2, butwithl-he parts in the same relative positions as in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged detached front elevation of the breech-block; Fig. 4, a'detached plan view of a portion of the slide and connectinglink and means for detaching the slide and link with the sides ofthe frame in section; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken view, in vert-ical longitudinal section, of one of the tubes con.- t-aining the restoring-springs of the automatic operating mechanism; Fig.v 6,- a` detached plan view, partly in horizontal section,-of the links by which they are connected with. the ,operating-lever; Fig. 7, an enlarged view of the gun in transverse section onthe line 7 'Z of Fig. l; Fig. 8, a similar view on the line 8 8 of the same gure; Fig. 9, a similar view on the line 9 9 of the same ligure; Fig. 10, a similar view on vthe line 10 10 ofthe same ligure; Fig. l1, a similar View on the line 1 111 of the same figure, but with the upper part broken away.

My invention relates to an improvement in machine-guns of that class in which the gases of explosion are employed to make the gun produce ya comparatively simple gun, not- I liable toderangement, effective and convenient in use, and adapted to be adjusted for continuous or intermittent tiring, as may be desired.

With these ends vin view my inventionis herein illustrated and described as embodied' in a machine-gun having certairrdetails of Iconstruction and combinations ofparts,4 as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

My improved gun, as herein shown, has a barrel A, a receiver B, a -frame C extending forward therefrom, and a handle D, all of ordinary form and construction. The breechblock E is located Within the receiver'V B, in `which it is ,arranged for longitudinal reciprocation, being guided therein by a rib e, Fig.'

The breech-block is also constructed and arranged to have a slight vertical movement,

whereby its rear end is engaged with a lock- A'shoulder forming an vabutment to resist the recoil of the exploding cartridges. The said breech-block is provided at its forward end with a depending arm, carrying the primary extractor or feedihook F, the function whereof is to successively extract cartridges from the feeding mechanism, which will be described at another time. The breech-block isalso provided with va secondary. extractor F', .located on its opposite side. and near its upper edge, and adapted to extract the spentk cartridges from theA bore of the gun for their Vejection through the opening B', thereto provided in theiright-hand side ofthe receiver B, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The breech-black is further lprovided with a tiring-pin E2, Figs. '2 and 3, which may be of any approved construction. A hammer G, located in the receiver to the rear of but in line with the breech-block,` is constructed rco with a stem G, which is encircled by a spiral hammer-spring G2, which extends into an Opening formed for it in the handle D, into which opening the said stem enters when the hammer is cocked. A screw-plug g, located at the outer end of the opening in the handle, connes the spring in place, the forward end of the handle being fastened in the. rear end of` the receiver. A trigger H, pivoted in the rear end of thereceiver, hasits inner end notched to engage with the notched lower face of the hammer in the usual manner. A triggerspring H', secured to the handle and engaging with the upper edge of the trigger in the rear of vthe pivot thereof, exerts a constant effort to engage the trigger with the hammer. Upon the same pivot-pin as the trigger H is also provided anotched sear h, which also engages with the hammer, and is movable independently of the trigger, and is normally held in engagement with the h'am mer by aportion of thetrigger-spring H', which is divided in its free forward portion longitudinally in two parts for its entire length, except at the hub which unites the two parts, and where a'screw serves for fastening, or two narrow springs fastened alongside each other may be substituted; and this sear h has a projection or finger at its end which is engaged bya pin projecting from the rearend of a firing-lever I, the forward end whereof extends downward into position for engagement by a firing projection h', lcarried by the slide J. The operation of this firing-lever and its coaction with `the sear will be set forth at another time.

The said slide J is adapted to have longitudinal movement back and forth in the lower portion of the frame C of the'gun, and is shown as guided in the longitudinal grooves c c in. the sides of the frame, and is provided near its rear end with a block J', which is inclosed bythe receiver, and furnished at its upper end with an inclined operatinglinger J2 which enters a notch E3 formed inv the lower face of the rear end of the breechblock, which is in this manner connected directly with the slide. "A secondary 'feedlever K, pivotally hung upon the left side wall of the frame, is furnished near end with a pin 7c', which enters an formed in the rear end of the primary feedlever L, which feed-lever L is hung on a pin Z inl the left side wall of the frame, vided at its lower forward end with a springactuated dog L', havinga beveled nose which co-operates with the feed-wheel M, Fig. 8, of the. cartridge-feeding mechanism. The lower end of the secondary feed-lever K enters an openingj, formed in the slidejust in' frontof the block. J, the end walls of the said opening engaging with the said end of the feedlever to turn the saine on its pivot. Thus when the slide is moved forward the rear end wall ofthe opening engages with the lower end of the secondary lever and carries the same forward, whereby the pin kof the secondar'yleopen slot its upper,

and is prosartene ver,`working in the open slot of the primary lever, raises the rear end, and thus depresses l the forward end of the primary lever, and the spring-dog L moves downward in engagement with a tooth lof the feed-wheel, thereby rotating the feed-wheeln the other hand, when the slide moves rearward the front wall of the opening engages with the lower end of the secondary feed-lever, and carries the same rearward, whereby the pin k lowers the rear end and raises the frontend ofthe primary feed-lever, and the dog L is thus lifted into position for engaging a newtooth of the feedwheel, the beveled nose of the dog causing the same to be retiredv during its upward movement.l 1

The feeding mechanism of my improved "gun comprises a notched feed-wheel M, which is arranged directly below the butt-end ofthe barrel A and above the slide J. This feedwheel engages a feed-belt N, provided with a series of transversepockets, each of which is adapted to receive a cartridge, the belt entering the receiver through an opening O, formed in the right-hand side thereof, and emerging therefrom through the opening O formed in the left-hand side thereof, as shown by Fig. 8 of the drawings. This beltnnay be of any approved construction, and does not need detailed description. A. spring-actuated stud m, located in front of the wl1eel,is employed to prevent the same from retrograde movement, said stud entering one of a series of depressions m in the feed-wheel (cee Figs. la and 8) at the conclusion of each downstroke of the dog k. It will be understood that the wheel is arranged and the primary vextractor or feed-hook F ofthe breeceh-blqck constructed so that the primary extractor F will engage with the heads of the cartridges in the belt M when the breech-block is in its closed position. r vThen as the breech-block isinoved into its open position the cartridge thus Iengaged by the primary extractor or feed-hook will be drawn out upon the carrier P, which carrier is hung at its rear end withinthe receiver. The carrier is operated by means of a spring-stud P', mounted transversely in the lower portion of the block J', carried by 'thfe slide, (see Fig. 11,) and the spring-stud .P

is arranged to. engage with `the beveled shoulder P2, depending from the rear of the carrier. When the slide is moved rearward,

the stud P engages with the said beveled shoulder P2, of the carrier, and the stud P is temporarily retired thereby. As soon,'ho\v ever, as the stud has been carried beyond the rear end of the' said shoulder, it is ejected by its spring, taking a place back of the shoulder. Then when the slide is moved forward the stud engages'with the lower edge of the shoulder and liftsthe carrier quickly into its elevated position, in which it is shown by broken lines P2 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Then after the stud has passed beyond the IOO IIO

forward end of the shoulder in the forward movement of the slide, the carrier 'is allowed to drop back into its normal or receiving position by the action ofgravity. A

For the manual operation' of the slide, I provide it with a depending'handle J8, which is located just forward of its longitudinal c enter. In`front of this handle If'pivot to the slide aspringiactuated hand lever or latch Q,

the forward end of which is constructedwith a hook Q', having a central verticaLnotch or ing upwardly in front of t'he'pin 'R of the' link, so that said pin R is held between said hook Q and the semicircular bearing at the end of the slidel J. The extreme ends of the transverse pin R work in the guides or grooves c' c' for the slide J above referred to as formed in the sides ofthe frame, whereby the rear end of the-.link R' is guided when the link is disconnected from the slide, and the link and slide may be at any time disconnected by liftingthe rear end of the lever or latch Q, where` 'by the hook Q' at the forward end of said lever is moved down from in front of the transverse pin R. When the slide is thus disconnected it may be operated back and forth, and thereby the breech mechanism may be actuated without disturbing the automatic operating mechanism of the gun, and the slide and link may be readily again-connected at v any time by releasing the latch Q and pushing the slide forward until theparts re-engage.- Thus the slide isdetachably as well as ilexibly connected with the linkABj. Under this construction, when the slide andl link are connected and the slide s moved rearward, the

thrust of the link is taken by the semicircular bearing at the forward end of the-slide, while,

onrthe other hand, when the slide is beingr moved forward the draft of the linkV falls upon the hook of the latch or lever Q. This statement is made on the assumption that the mechanism of the gun is being operated automatically by the gases of explosion.

The link R is pivotally connected at its forward end by a pin r with the operating-lever S, which operating-lever is h-ung on ahorizontal transverse pivot S', mounted in the forward end of the frame C. The forward end of this lever is provided -witha pin S2, which enters an opening t, formed to receive it in a housing T, applied to the gun-barrel, and connected with the frame C thereof by means of a band T'. The opening t of the housing registers with a. radial opening U, formed in 'the gun-barrel A. The gases of explosion escaping through this opening U impinge against the pin S2,l and thus swing the operating-lever S4 on its pivot S. If desired, the pin S2 may be pivotally mounted in the forward end of the lever S, as in the construction covered by application for Letters Patent of myself and M. S. Browning, Serial No. 485,215, filed September 11, 1893.

It is' not broadly new with me to utilize the gases of' expl'sionfor the purpose of automatically actuatingmechanism foroperating the gun, and I do ngt limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement shown and described. I wish to call attention to the fact, however, that the housing T-is connected with the frame C of the gun, so that as the gun-barrel heats andlengthens it will do soindependently'of the housing, which will theref ore bepreserved in its right relation to the operating-lever, which,`as before explained, is carried by the frameof the gun.

When the operatinglever is acted upon by the gases of explosion it will be thrown into their normal positions by means cf a chain V, connected at its forward end with an arm Ss, formed at the inner end of the"lever, and

thereof, provided with or connected to a transverse .bar V', the ends of which engage with 'plugs V2 V, located in the rear ends o f two parallel tubes V Vs, situated in the same horizontal plane and containing spiral springs V4 'V, which thus exert a constant eiort through the mediumof the chain V to maintain the operating-levers and the other oper,-

having its lrear link or rod,at the rear end IOC- ating parts of the device in their normal positions, in which they are shown in Fig. 1. In

- this construction I thus employ two restoringsprings in `the'place of one, as heretofore, and am enabled to place the gas-operated mechanism close to the barrel' of the gun, as the arrangementof the 4springs on each side of the' link or links connecting the springs and gaslever enables the gas-lever to be placed directly under the springcontaining tubes. It will also be observed that i`n this construction the links connecting the springs and gas-lever have no sliding bearings except at the crosspiece V', which cross-piece is guided by the walls of slots in the spring-containing tubes V, and that this entire retracting mechanism is symmetrical and Vperfectly balanced laterally as lto both weight and stress.

The cushion-springW (shown in Fig. 1) is of ordinary construction and operation. v

Having now described my improved gun in detail I will proceed to set forth the method of its operation. Assuming that a cartridge has just been fired, the gases of its explosion issuingthrough the opening U in the gun-barrel will act upon the pin S2, so as to turn the operating-lever S upon its pivot until the said lever is almost reversed in position, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings. This movement of the lever S causes the connecting-link R to be moved rearward and in turn to r'earwardly move the slide J, which we will aslrre ne to be now coupled with the link or rod ger of the sear h, which sear is in turn dethe latch or hand-lever Q. Almost immepressed, sothat if the trigger is held in pulled `tely after th'e slide .I has begun its rearposition the hammer will be released. The 7o rd movement the inclined rear wall of the cartridge in the barrel is thus red, and the Hating-finger J2 of the block J' of the slide gases of explosionthus developed operate to gages with the inclined rear wal-l of the put the mechanisms of the gun through the :ch E8, formed in the rear end of the breechmovementsY just above described, and these ck, whereb the said inclined walls coact operations will be repeated continuously as 75 draw the lrear end of the breech -block long as cartridges are fed tothe gun. It will wnward out of engagement with the lock- 'de observed that the seal' h is in position to shoulder or abutment b', formed in the vengage with the hammer at all times except per wall of the receiver.. .The breech-block when the slide is in extremeI forward position thus left free to be vmoved* by the slide with the breech-block fully locked, and that 8o 1o its open position. As it moves rearthe slide in its forward movement fully locks .rdly it engages' with the hammer, which the breech-block before the firing projection forces into its cocked position, in which it 71' of the slide actuates the firing-lever to reengaged and held by the trigger H. Furs lease the hammer, so that the locking of the armere, as the block is moved rearward its breech-block is insured before the hammer is 8 5 imary extractor or feed-hook F, which is in released, and the hammer cannot be released gagement with a cartridge in the belt en'- from'the sear except when the breech-block cling the feed-wheel, draws the said caris fully lockedin closed position. If it is dedge out upon the carrier', which carrier is sired, however, to operate the gun manually eninits depressed position. Furthermore, instead of automatically, that may be done 9o e rearward movement of the slide operates by grasping the handle Ja of the slide and e primary and secondary feed-levers, as belifting the hand-lever or latch at its rear end, re described, and brings the spring-dog L whereby its forward end is disconnected from to position for engaging the next tooth of the the pin carried bye-the operating rod or link ad-wheel. Again, the spring-stud mounted R', and -the slide is thus disconnected from 95 the block J of the carrier moves into posi# the .gas-operated lever S. The hand-lever or n behind the depending shoulder thereof. latch also enables the gun to be loaded or un- 1e slide having now moved to the limit of its loaded without operatin g the operating-lever, rarward' movement is automatically moved asit permits the slide to be disconnected from rward by the action of the springs V4 V4 of the automatic operating mechanism. When roo e operating-lever S through the medium of the slide is operated manually back and forth e chain V. As soon as the slide begins to it will when in forward position be automatioveforward,the spring-stud Pengages with cally connected withthe connecting-link by e depending shoulder of the carrier and means of its hand-lever or latch, the hook of 'ts the same and the cartridge upon it into which will snap over the pin' at the rear end 105 selevated position. 'The forward-end of the of the link whenever the slide is pushed for- 'eech-block now engages with the cartridge, ward with the hand-lever Q released. v 1d the cartridge is forced into the bore of I would have it understood that I do not e gun-barrel. The forward movement of limit myself to the particular automatic op- .e slide also operates the primary and secerating mechanism herein shown and derro idary feed-levers and causes the rotation of scribed, nor to the feeding or firing mechanle feed-wheel, so as to bring another earism, for all of the mechanisms mentioned may idge into position to be engaged by thepribe varied in construction without departing ary extractor. .I ust before the slide reaches from my invention. le limit of its forward movement-the in- Having fully described my invention, what 115 .ined forward edge or wall of the operating- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters nger J2 engages with the correspondingly-- Patent, is v l lclined forward wall of the notch Ea in the 1. In a machine gun, the combination with reech-block, whereby the rear end of the thebarx'el and the receiver thereof, of a lonreech-block is lifted for the engagement of gitudnally and vertically movable breeeh- :zo s extreme rear end with the shoulder b', block having an inclined slot" formed in the )rmed in the upper wall Aof the receiver, rear end of its lower edge, 'a slide. having an 'hereby the breech-block is locked in ,its inclined finger adapted to enterthe said notch losed position at a point Aabove the bore of for reciprocating the block and raising the ne barrel. lt will beunderstood that at this rearend of the same into its locked position, r2 5 lme the operating-lever S has assumed its and drawing' it down out of such position, y ormal position with reference to the radial cartridge feeding mechanism, automatic op perture formed in the barrel for the escape erating mechanism constructed to be operf the gases of explosion. Then, just as the ated by the gases of explosion, and conneclide is completing its forward movement the tions between the said operating mechanism l 36 ring projection h', carried lby the slide, enand the breech-block and feeding mechanism, 'ages with the downwardly-extending forsubstantially as described. .fard end of the flring-lever, whereby the 2. In a machinegun, the combination with ear end thereof is depressed against the tinthe barrel and receiver thereof, of a breechblock, cartridge feeding mechanism,a slide, a primary feed-lever pivoted in the, frame, and carrying a spring-actuated dog which engages with the feeding mechanism, a secondary feed-lever connected with the primary lever and also pivoted in the frame and enteringan opening in the slide for operation thereby, and automatic operatingmechanism constructed to be operated by the gases of explosion, and connected withthe slide which slide also operates the breech-block, substantially as described. l

3. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and frame, of a breech-block, carfridge feeding mechanism, a slide operating said block and mechanism, and a gas operated device, a rod extending from the gas operated fdevice to the forward'end of the slide, and a hand lever or latch connecting the slide and rod and adapted to beoperated at will to connect or disconnect the breech mechanism and Vgas operatedv device, and guides for said rod whereby said rod when disconnected isheld in the path of said slide, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine gun the combination with the barrel and the receiver thereof, of a breech-block, cartridge feeding mechanism, a slide connected with the said block and mechanism, automatic operating mechanism constructed to be actuated by the gases of explosion, and a hand lever or latch for connecting the slide and operating mechanism, whereby the said slide and mechanism may be readily disconnected, substantially as described.

5. In a machine gun, the combination with the barrel and frame, of a breech block, cartridge feeding mechanism, a longitudinally moving slide operating the said block and mechanism, a: gas operated lever, a rod extendl ing therefrom to the forward end of the slide,

said slide having an open bearing at said forward end and said rou. having a cross pin to enter said open bearing, and guides in the frame for said. cross pin, and a spring latch fitting over said pin of the rod when said pinv is within the open bearing of the slide, whereby said slide and rod may be connected or disconnected at will, substantially as set forth. 6. In al machine gun, the combination with a barrel provided with a radial gas opening, of a receiver, a frame connected with the receiver, a housing encircling the barrel and connected with the said frame, and provided with an opening aligned with the said gas opening, an operating lever pivotally attached to the frame, and provided with a pin which enters the opening in the housing, a spring connected with'the said lever for 'restoring it to its normalposition; a breech-block, car- `pivoted upon saidA slide and havinga hook and the said block and mechanisms, whereby the lengthening of the gun barrel as it heats does not change the position of the housing with reference' to the-operating lever, substantially as described.

7. In a machine gun, the combination with l l the operating lever thereof, of two spiral .springs and slotted tubes in'closing the same,

a cross bar for compressing said springs, said cross bar being located at the rear ends of springs and working in the'slots of the tubes,' andlinks connected to said cross barbetween said springs and also connected to the operating lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence ot' two subscrib ing witnesses.

' JOHN M. BROWNING. Witnesses:

KATE LINEHAN, T. S. BROWNING. 

